jasdooit

A glamorous Los AngelesA TV journalist stated she was ‘taken by surprise’ when she was let go on her 40th birthday.

Ellina Abovian from KTLA was one of several employees who were laid off this week as the station’s parent company, Nexstar, gets ready to acquire competitor Tegna,the California Post reported Wednesday.

She subsequently verified the information in a tearful video shared on Instagram during Thursday afternoon, stating, “I will not be returning to the position I held daily for 11 years.”

“Earlier this week, I, together with many of my KTLA close friends and coworkers, were let go due to company reorganization,” Abovian explained, then went on to talk about the surprise she experienced upon hearing the news.

“I didn’t anticipate this. I was taken by surprise, and it’s painful. It’s deeply hurtful because I had a lot of passion for my work,” she said.

Abovian continued by stating that she recognizes ‘corporate cutbacks are a normal part of life and this is simply the nature of the game, affecting many people across various industries at the moment.’

“It’s not just me, and my circumstances are definitely not one of a kind, but it’s challenging to deal with given the way it occurred,” she stated, adding that it happened as she was preparing to mark a significant birthday.

Instead, I’m now figuring out what I’ll do as a single mother to two children,” the veteran reporter said with sorrow. “You know, life becomes serious when it’s truly serious.

The journalist also shared with her over 50,000 Instagram followers that she will miss being involved with the news station.

It has been 11 years of being in your living room daily. It has been 11 years of sharing your stories, and I will miss it,” she said, mentioning that she will also miss her “KTLA family.

“And I will truly miss our audience because connecting with all of you in person, whether in the field, at the grocery store, or anywhere else, was an essential part of my life and something I cherished deeply, as I understood its significance,” Abovian said, beginning to emotional.

However, she pointed out, “KTLA is not the only peak I will ever tackle. In reality, this is merely the start.”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured.

Numerous colleagues of Abovian voiced their support for her in the video’s comments, including Kacey Montoya, a fellow KTLA reporter, who conveyed her affection for Abovian, and Araksya Karapetyan, the anchor of Fox 11’s Good Day LA, who described the news as “disappointing and I am very sorry.”

But I’m aware you’ll succeed in whatever path you choose,” Karapetyan remarked. “The suitable people and chances will naturally come to you… and they’ll be lucky to have you. Keep radiating.

Bill Melugin from Fox News also stated that the layoff was a loss for KTLA, suggesting that “it simply means there’s another door you are meant to walk through, and this will free you up for that.”

Film producer and screenwriter Sev Ohanian, on the other hand, mentioned that the news of Abovian’s exit ‘ruined my week.’

“You’re the top. [You’re] amazing at what you do. I can’t wait to see the next peak you conquer,” he wrote.

Before Thursday’s Instagram video, Abovian releasedan installment from her podcastrecognizing it was her birthday and providing a somewhat enigmatic message when she was asked what guidance she would offer her 20-year-old self.

“Cease to hide. Stop diminishing yourself. There is a vast world beyond and you can be a part of it,” she stated, following over a decade at the network.

Cease concealing your body and stop believing you aren’t worthy. You are incredibly perfect in all your flaws. If I could speak to my 21-year-old self and tell her to just go for it. What are you waiting for?

I wish my 21-year-old self had been able to pursue all her aspirations. I wish she could have ventured out into the world,” she mentioned. The journalist expressed that she wished she had “experienced more rather than seeking security.

She mentioned in an Instagram post: ‘I suppose this is 40. Feeling lighter, cherished, and excited for what’s ahead’.

A photo A photo of her and her older son savoring some birthday cake was labeled “The best part of the day.”

The announcement of the job cuts started to circulate on Wednesday.

Other network personnel, including weather reporter Mark Kriski, meteorologist Kacey Montoya, midday hosts Lu Parker, and Glen Walker, were also terminated.

Winner of an Emmy Award, former anchor Walker stated to the Post that he found out about the cutbacks on Monday.

“Did I anticipate it? I would say no,” the anchor stated, referencing the network’s generally strong viewership numbers.

It will be intriguing to observe what occurs in the future.

The action paves the way for the large amount of debt Nexstar will take on from Tegna once the companies combine.

The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, stated he was prepared to proceed with the $6.8 billion merger earlier this week.

Nexstar has already spent $4.1 billion on the Chicago-based Tribune Media — an acquisition that positioned it as the largest local news broadcaster in the nation.

It also brought WGN, a well-known Chicago news station, under Nexstar’s ownership.

The affiliate terminated nine well-known on-air staff members on Monday.

Its biggest affiliate, WPIX-New York, also cut staff.

A representative stated, “Nexstar does not address matters related to staff, but the company is implementing actions required to remain competitive during this time of extraordinary transformation.”

The company gained attention towards the end of last year when it decided to remove ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ from ABC stations for about a week following criticism of jokes delivered by its host after the killing of Charlie Kirk.

Nexstar operates 201 stations across 116 regional markets throughout the nation. It is accessible to 70 percent of American households.

Read more